History of Canonical Literature of Jainas

SR No.: 006541
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Hiralal R Kapadia, Nagin J Shah
Publisher: Prakrit Text Society Ahmedabad
Publication Year: 2010
Total Pages: 322
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Agam, Canon, & History
File Size: 17 MB

Page 92

CHAPTER IV
THE EXTINCT ĀGAMAS OF THE JAINAS
In each of the two cycles of kālacakra, avasarpiņi and utsarpiņī there flourish 24 Tirthankaras in this Bharata ksetra and Airāvata as well. Moreover an infinite number of kālacakras has elapsed by this time. Hence we can easily conclude that the number of the Tirthankaras that have flourished by this time is infinite. According to the traditional view of the Jainas all the Ganadharas of each of these Tirthařkaras composed dvādaśāngīs. Furthermore several direct or indirect disciples of every Tirthankara, who were endowed with four kinds of mati composed Painnagas as stated in Nandi (s. 44). Leaving aside the sacred literature that came into existence after the omniscience of Lord Mahāvīra, the preceding one seems to have been practically irrevokably lost for ever. No record is available for it. This is perhaps natural; but it may appear certainly wonderful that there is no complete record to be found regarding the scriptures which were composed during a millennium beginning from 500 B.C. and ending with 500 A.D. Hereby I mean to suggest that we have no means to exactly point out all those scriptures which are now lost to us and of which the composition does 1. I use this word to indicate the following items : (i) Lord Mahāvīra while renouncing the world uttered a Sāmāüyasutta. Probably
this very one is preserved in the Āvassaya. (ii) He performed an iryäpathiki kriyā after having crossed a river, prior to his
attainment of ommiscience. So on this occasion he may have uttered some
sūtra similar to the Iriyāvahiyasutta occurring in the Avassaya. (iii) Some scholars believe that the 14 Puvvas belonged to a predecessor of Lord
Mahāvīra, and at least some extracts from them are available at present. 2. In Outlines of Jainism (p. xxxviii) it is said :
"As to the later history of these scriptures the Jaina tradition proceeds to relate that they were sunk in boatfills by śankara Ācārya (A.D. 788-820) about the Vikrama year 846 (A.D. 789).”